Thread: Chopper downed by rock repaired

Chopper downed by rock repaired

BY JEFFREY GAUTREAUX, Sun Staff Writer
Aug 24, 2005, 10:26 pm

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U.S. Border Patrol Yuma sector public affairs officer Michael Gramley pulls the cover off one of the rotors of a Border Patrol helicopter that was struck by a rock Tuesday night. Sun photo/Alfred J. Hernandez
A new rotor was being brought in Wednesday afternoon to be used as a spare part for a U.S. Border Patrol helicopter brought down by a rock thrown by an illegal immigrant Tuesday, said the patrol's Yuma sector spokesman.

"This is the first time in Yuma sector where an incident like this has happened," said Michael Gramley, public affairs officer.

Around 6 p.m. Tuesday, the A-Star helicopter responded to the area two miles west of the U.S. Port of Entry at Andrade, Calif., according to a Border Patrol release.

The helicopter was assisting agents in surveillance and in preventing a group of 17 illegal aliens from running back to Mexico, Gramley said.

While the helicopter hovered over the group, another group of 10 illegal aliens came up south of the All American Canal and threw rocks at the aircraft.

One of the rocks struck the rotor, gashing it near the end of the blade.

The helicopter made an emergency landing nearby, according to the release.

At the time, the aircraft was carrying a Customs and Border Protection pilot and a Border Patrol observer. Neither was injured. The group of 17 was apprehended, but the group of 10 escaped.

The helicopter would be flown out Wednesday, likely before nightfall, Gramley said.

"It will be inspected very thoroughly and then go back into service," he said.

Two portable light units were brought to the scene Tuesday night to illuminate the area where the helicopter made the landing, which is close to the border.

Also, agents kept watch over the aircraft all night, Gramley said.

A 15-year-old male and 17-year-old male â€â€

not good. Whats after rocks ??

Oh the irony! Had the perp been an islamic extremist, and had the border been Canada, the DHS would surely have classified this as bonified act of anti-American terrorism.

One more reason to have troops on the border.

Just imagine what they would do to one of us for even throwing a rock at a helicopter. Anyone remember the guy that put a laser on a chopper?

But these are just more friendly workers. Tsk tsk. those kids.

added to the home.

http://www.alipac.us/article658.html

This should give the border patrol renewed interest in hearing about the supposed changes in the Bush policy on immigration. Are these just good folks throwing rocks at choppers and nearly killing our border patrol agents Juts good folks is not gonna work anymore, Mr. Prez.